Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to begin by welcoming all the Members back from their summer break. I hope they enjoyed their time with family, friends and constituents.
In my region, our culture focuses on respect of our elders, for the people who passed away. I would like to start by paying respect to the people who have passed away and our families and friends. The Nunakput communities may be large in geography but when it comes to closeness, we are a very tight-knit family. When one of the members passes away, every person is affected. We all have memories of them and their contributions. We are connected by families and friends that they leave behind.
Since the last sitting of the Assembly, there have been many deaths in my region, unfortunately. During the summer, the smallest community of Sachs Harbour has been affected by the passing of Martha Keogak, and in particular the Esau family experienced the passing of elder Shirley Esau and her son Andrew Esau.
Today I give my condolences to the family and friends in my home community of Tuktoyaktuk. I give condolences to the family and friends of William Gruben, to his wife, Gail, and family, and his mother, Helen Gruben, and family; Bobby Kimiksana and to his family; and one of my childhood buddies, Clifton Gruben has passed away. He was also my soccer coach and, really, he will be sadly missed.
I would like to quote Cliff, who was first… I walked into the airport and he said, Jack, I made history. I said, what did you do, Cliff? He said, I was the first one to dump a load of gravel on 177. Every time I am going to be on that road, I will be thinking of Cliff.
In Ulukhaktok, Melvin Pretty, Leonard Aleekuk, Shirley Oliktoak and respected elder Jimmy Kudlak who passed away, I give my sincere condolences to their family and friends.
Mr. Speaker, lastly, I wish to give my condolences to all of the people of the Northwest Territories who have lost loved ones in the past year or in the past few months. Our prayers are with them and their families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.